Deepening woes
Let's say goodbye to the sadness that continues in this world
I'm chasing a faint light in numerous unknown roads
The Girls' Generation 2007 debut song "Into the World" boomed as the crowd at an April rally celebrated news of then-president Yoon Suk-yeol's removal from office. The lyrics suggested fresh starts and new opportunities.
But for South Korea's ruling People Power Party, the problems are only getting worse.
With weeks to go until the country chooses a new president, the party is embroiled in bitter fighting over who the candidate should be. Initially it nominated Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister and trade union leader who was famously tortured ― but not broken ― by authorities in the regime of dictator Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea in the 1960s and '70s. But Kim opposed Yoon's impeachment, raising doubts about his ability to rally support among voters.
In a dramatic twist, Han Duck-soo, the former prime minister who served as acting president during Yoon's suspension, declared his candidacy as an independent ― just one day before Kim was officially named the PPP's nominee.
A former trade negotiator and ambassador to the US, Han is widely regarded to be better equipped than other candidates to handle the tariffs of US President Donald Trump. PPP leaders seemed to believe that too.
But conservatives face a dilemma: two competing candidates and a shrinking window to unify.
Compounding that dilemma is the fact both men lag the opposition party's candidate by a substantial margin. In a poll conducted from May 5 to 7 by Hankook Research and Kstat Research, Kim picked up a paltry 12% of support. Han did slightly better, with 23%. That was well behind the main opposition Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung, preferred by 43% of respondents.
The rivalry between Kim and Han has grown so bitter that the two couldn't even agree on the date by which a final decision has to be made. Han insisted a candidate should have been chosen by May 11. Kim argued that they have until May 25, a stance that has angered members of his party who suggest Han may be their preferred choice.
Sudden move
PPP leadership resorted to a forceful approach. At daybreak on May 10, the first day of the candidate registration, it announced the revocation of Kim's candidacy and selection of a new candidate. An hour later, Han ― who had just been registered as a party member ― emerged as Kim's replacement and party members were asked to vote on supporting the change.
But they backed Kim, who held on as the official candidate.
On the first day of the election campaign, Kim visited the southeastern city of Daegu, a conservative stronghold, to call for party unity.
Some politicians and local observers believe Yoon, the ousted president, is pulling strings behind the scenes.
Kim worked in the Yoon administration, prompting criticism that he could be regarded as a stooge.
Yoon has taken to social media to support Kim, a move that has led to calls for the impeached former leader to stay out of the election. Some even want Yoon to be expelled from the PPP.
United in opposition
In late April, with the PPP in disarray, the main opposition Democratic Party rallied decisively behind Lee Jae-myung as its candidate. Lee narrowly lost the 2022 election to Yoon Suk-yeol but stayed on as a popular party leader. He secured the nomination with a record 89.77 percent of the primary vote.
In his victory speech, which had the air of an inaugural presidential address, he used the word "integration" 14 times as he implored South Koreans to help "eliminate disparities and restore democracy." The remarks drew praise even from some conservative political commentators, one of whom called the speech "excellent and well-balanced."
Although he represents the more progressive of South Korea's major parties, Lee describes his position as center-right, a move that could broaden his support across the political spectrum.
Legal troubles
The biggest challenge to Lee will come from what local media are calling "judicial risks." He's currently a defendant in no less than five legal cases. Just days after the Democrats picked him as their candidate, the Supreme Court ordered a review of a decision that cleared him of violating election law in the 2022 ballot by allegedly spreading false information. The court said the exoneration had hinged on a "misinterpretation of the legal principles" ― a remark that media have interpreted as a de facto guilty verdict.
The Seoul High Court scheduled the hearing for May 15. The Democratic Party swiftly condemned the decision, calling it judicial interference in the election. Lawmakers went so far as to suggest impeaching the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The court responded by moving the hearing date to mid-June, after the election. It said the decision would "ensure opportunities for campaigning and … eliminate disputes over the fairness of trials."
The PPP accused the court of buckling under pressure from the Democratic Party. Regardless, it was an important victory for Lee. His party has also signaled it will act quickly to overhaul the Criminal Procedure Act to suspend trials for sitting presidents. Some critics say the Democratic Party's actions violate the constitutionally enshrined separation of powers.
As voters look for options that can offer a brighter future, both sides of politics are mired in controversies that could stand in the way of progress.
